Ball Making Jigs ???'s

[Fish30114]

I've found the Carter products jig for making balls, pretty pricey--I'm wondering if there is another jig that is good quality anyone would recommend?

 

[KenV]

Don -- I have been looking at them for a couple of years. I found 4

Carter - which is the "perfect sphere" being manufactured and sold by Carter

Vermec - sold by Woodworkers Emporium in Nevada.

Lindsay sphere jig sold by the same folks who make ornamental lathes.

There is one made in England by Boffin52 on UK-Ebay and sold in the us by Chef Specialties. This is the cheap one, but has some issues. I have his threading jig and the sphere jig is a variation of the same theme. It is somewhere between making them with cups freehand and the other jigs.

There are also several approaches used with metal lathes to turn balls on the ends of handles and such -- generally small.

The three better ones are of similar price.

Have had hands-on with the vermec -- it is built herky and works well.

 

[Fish30114]

Ken what's 'herky' mean?

 

[dogcatcher]

Make your own. Shadow Sphere Jig

There are also other ones on the Internet, some simpler some more complicated. All are cheaper than a commercially made rig.

 

[dogcatcher]

Here is another homemade jig. Sphere Factor - The Woodworkers Institute

Don't want to tie up your lathe, check this one out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX4dzFQGfTo

 

[lorbay]

Don -- I have been looking at them for a couple of years. I found 4

Carter - which is the "perfect sphere" being manufactured and sold by Carter

Vermec - sold by Woodworkers Emporium in Nevada.

Lindsay sphere jig sold by the same folks who make ornamental lathes.

There is one made in England by Boffin52 on UK-Ebay and sold in the us by Chef Specialties. This is the cheap one, but has some issues. I have his threading jig and the sphere jig is a variation of the same theme. It is somewhere between making them with cups freehand and the other jigs.

There are also several approaches used with metal lathes to turn balls on the ends of handles and such -- generally small.

The three better ones are of similar price.

Have had hands-on with the vermec -- it is built herky and works well.

I think he ment hearty
Lin

 

[KenV]

Ken what's 'herky' mean?

"Engineering term" --- beyond minimums and very very strong design

 

[KenV]

Don -- I have been looking at them for a couple of years. I found 4

Carter - which is the "perfect sphere" being manufactured and sold by Carter

Vermec - sold by Woodworkers Emporium in Nevada.

Lindsay sphere jig sold by the same folks who make ornamental lathes.

There is one made in England by Boffin52 on UK-Ebay and sold in the us by Chef Specialties. This is the cheap one, but has some issues. I have his threading jig and the sphere jig is a variation of the same theme. It is somewhere between making them with cups freehand and the other jigs.

There are also several approaches used with metal lathes to turn balls on the ends of handles and such -- generally small.

The three better ones are of similar price.

Have had hands-on with the vermec -- it is built herky and works well.

I think he ment hearty
Lin

No -- Herky is a good term for a very robust design that has lots of strength -

The Boffin52 design does not come close to that standard